Design Theatre/ Technology
Combine your passion for design with your passion for the theatre to evoke powerful emotions in any audience. With classes in theatrical rendering, lighting and costume design, you'll graduate with a broad understanding of every aspect of theatre.
Become A Problem Solver
Design and theatre technology is about thinking critically to solve problems in all parts of a production. As a design and theatre technology student at USD, you'll receive comprehensive training in all theatrical elements. By understanding the role of each member of the production process, you'll learn to creatively solve the unique challenges presented by each production. You will also gain a high level of analytical and communication skills, as well as an understanding of art and theatrical design history and the ability to communicate graphically.
You will select an area of emphasis on which to focus your studies. These include:
- Costume Design
- Light and Sound Design
- Scenic Design
- Technical Direction
Prepare to anticipate and solve any problem with a graduate degree specializing in design and theatre technology at USD.
Degrees & Offerings
Theatre: Design Theatre/Technology (MFA)
Master'sAs a theatre graduate student pursuing the design theatre/technology specialization, you will take upper level courses in design/technical theatre, contemporary drama, script analysis and dramaturgy, theatrical rendering, and scenic, costume and lighting design, which allows you to customize your program of study to match your career goals.
Program Details
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Known For Excellence
Get hands-on experience in out-of-classroom opportunities that will broaden and expand your horizons, allowing you to work side-by-side with professionals in the field.
Our alumni go on to be incredibly successful in their fields, having played roles in Broadway hits like "Book of Mormon" and "Hamilton".
You will gain specialized education the areas of acting, musical theatre, theatre studies or design and technology.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
As a graduate student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.
Gain valuable real-world, professional experience while enjoying paid employment and discounted tuition rates as a graduate student at USD. The affordability you gain through graduate assistantships and fellowships will equip you with valuable, professional-level skills that will set you apart after graduation.
Teaching and research assistantships are awarded by individual departments. If you do not receive an assistantship within your department, you are eligible for an assistantship outside of your academic program or within support offices (non-academic units) at USD. Further inquiries should be directed to the graduate director of the department.
Real Accomplishments through Hands-On Experience
You'll find the mentorship and facilities at USD that you need to develop your artistic talents. Take advantage of all we have to offer in the College of Fine Arts from a newly renovated theatre to a fully equipped dance studio.
- The Wayne S. Knutson Theatre is a 400-seat theatre that houses 30 line sets, full-length side tabs and state-of-the-art equipment.
- The Arena Theatre is a flexible configuration space capable of seating up to 70 patrons and serves as our studio performance space, as well as our primary room for acting, directing and voice classes.
- Fully equipped dance studio featuring a wall of curtained mirrors and a sprung, wooden dance floor. The space is home to our dance, movement dynamics, stage combat and mask classes and can accommodate up to 50 patrons for performances.
- Our theatre department also has a fully equipped scenic shop and costume studio for the design, construction, dyeing and cleaning of costumes and crafts.
Build Your Artistic Community
USD is home to more than 180 student organizations, including several that are housed in the Department of Theatre. Whether you are interested in developing management and leadership skills or entertaining at the local senior citizen center, USD has opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community.Student Theatre Cooperative
The Student Theatre Cooperative (STC) is an independent organization that produces original and cutting-edge theatre that typically would not get produced in our main stage season. STC provides opportunities for students to develop leadership and management skills, while also refining their craft through theatre production.
At weekly meetings, students will:
- Select a season of plays and musicals
- Assign production teams and plan productions
- Participate in a Spontaneous Combustion event, where student playwrights, directors and actors write and produce original 10-minute plays in a 24-hour period
STC also engages in service activities with a variety of local organizations like the food pantry, the senior citizen center and SESDAC, a center providing support for persons with disabilities. STC also hosts an annual awards party and dinner each spring.
STC meets weekly at 5:15 p.m. on Thursdays in the Arena Theatre. All students enrolled at USD, as well as faculty and staff, may attend. Email [email protected] with questions.
Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA)
Join your fellow graduate and professional students at USD. We aim to build a sense of community between graduate and professional students. Build your resume, network with others and gain experience and the unique opportunity to represent the interests of graduate students to the greater campus and community.
Behind the Scenes
